Word Definition

Precipitate

  1. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent; headlong.
  2. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or height.
  3. To dash or fall headlong.
  4. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly or too soon; as, precipitate a journey, or a conflict.
  5. An insoluble substance separated from a solution in a concrete state by the action of some reagent added to the solution, or of some force, such as heat or cold. The precipitate may fall to the bottom (whence the name), may be diffused through the solution, or may float at or near the surface.
  6. To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See Precipitate, n.
  7. Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war.
  8. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done before the time; as, a precipitate measure.
  9. To separate from a solution, or other medium, in the form of a precipitate; as, water precipitates camphor when in solution with alcohol.
  10. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a precipitate case of disease.
  11. To hasten without preparation.